Should The Minimum Wage Be Raised?

NEXT GENERATION

No

April 5, 1995|KIMBERLY JORDAN and Cardinal Gibbons High

How important is your job? Do you depend on each paycheck? Where would you be if you were fired?

Recently, there have been debates about whether or not the minimum wage should be raised from $4.25 to $5. Some experts believe that raising the minimum wage could lead to the loss of 40,000 to 100,000 jobs.

So who do you think would be the first to go? The inexperienced teens who can only work a limited number of hours.

I am very fortunate. I don't depend on my job.

I don't have any weekly, monthly or yearly expenses. I work only to pay for extra things, such as new clothes, weekend activities, and gas for the car.

If I lost my job, I could still maintain my current lifestyle by doing odd jobs around the house.

Most teen-agers are not as lucky. They depend on each check to pay for car payments and insurance, to help support their family, to pay for private schooling, and much more.

Each person's expenses are different, but most teens would unable to survive without a regular pay check.

Those lucky few who still have a job will have to work harder in order to fill the shoes of the missing employees.

Consumers will also be affected by an increase in the minimum wage because, chances are, prices will rise.

Earning more may seem like a dream come true, but it seems to be a high price to pay.